TOW #2 - The Second Republican Presidential Debate

The second Republican Presidential debate took place on Wednesday, September 16, 2015 and was broadcasted by CNN to an audience of over twenty-three million people.  The participants in the debate were Donald Trump (billionaire and party front runner), Ben Carson (retired Neurosurgeon, Jeb Bush (former Florida governor), Chris Christie (New Jersey governor), Marco Rubio (Florida senator), Ted Cruz (Texas senator), Mike Huckabee (former Arkansas governor), Carly Fiorina (former Hewlett-Packard CEO), John Kasich (Ohio governor), Rand Paul (Kentucky senator), and Scott Walker (Wisconsin governor).  Each participant is credible due to their position in society or the government as well as the fact that they were invited to participate in the debate by CNN, based on their positions in the current presidential race polls.  While each candidate approached the debate differently, each one appealed to pathos, ethos and logos within their answers to the prompts and questions that they were given.  One of the best examples of pathos being used during the debate was from Carly Fiorina on the topic of the legalization of marijuana and drug treatment funds.  She said, "I very much hope that I am the only person on this stage who can say this, but I know there are millions of Americans out there who will say the same thing: My husband, Frank, and I buried a child to drug addiction."  Although the question given to Fiorina was factual, her answer allowed the audience to sympathize with her and the tragic experience that she had to endure.  Fiorina's answer also established her ethos by giving her the credibility to have experienced an event related to the topic.  Examples of logos were prevalent all night as well, especially when candidates would attempt to outshine other candidates with facts about their ratings and/or success with previous ventures.  The entire purpose of the event was to pit each candidate against the others in an attempt for the candidates to reach a greater audience of potential voters, highlight their political beliefs, and make themselves appear the best possible nomination for President.  While the debate was certainly entertaining, only some candidates truly achieved their purpose.  Others appeared misinformed, nervous, and unable to handle the pressure of the three-hour long event.  Those who came out on top were the ones who most appealed to ethos and pathos, and could relate directly to their audience.  

Debate participants